Special Investigation Headquarters summons Yongsan Information Chief today... First suspect interrogation (Comprehensive)

Suspicion of Deleting Safety Accident Concern Report
Park Seongmin, Seoul Cheong Intelligence Chief, Also Under Investigation
Minister Lee Sangmin's Complaint to Be Reported to the Corruption Investigation Office

The signboard of the Itaewon Accident Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters), investigating the inadequate response to the 'Itaewon Disaster,' is hung at the entrance of the Mapo Police Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation HQ) will summon the head of the Intelligence Division at Yongsan Police Station, a key figure suspected of deleting an information report warning of safety accidents during Halloween, on the 15th for questioning as a suspect. This is the first suspect interrogation conducted by the Special Investigation HQ related to this disaster.

According to a compilation of our coverage, the Special Investigation HQ will summon Police Inspector Kim, head of the Intelligence Division at Yongsan Police Station, at 2 p.m. on the same day for questioning on charges of abuse of authority, evidence tampering, and professional negligence resulting in death or injury. Inspector Kim is suspected of ordering the deletion of a Halloween festival risk analysis report prepared by the Yongsan Police Station intelligence officer from the office PC three days before the Itaewon disaster and of coercing and persuading staff during this process. The Special Investigation HQ plans to verify the facts with Inspector Kim based on witness testimonies from Yongsan Police Station intelligence division staff.

With Inspector Kim’s summons, an investigation into whether higher-ups such as Seongmin Park, head of the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were involved is also expected to be unavoidable. Park is suspected of instructing, in a messenger chatroom joined by intelligence division heads from frontline police stations including Yongsan, to "delete information reports according to regulations in preparation for inspections and raids." The Special Investigation HQ stated the previous day that "after completing the investigation of Inspector Kim, Park will also be summoned soon as a witness for questioning."

The Special Investigation HQ announced the previous day that it would begin full-scale suspect summons investigations this week. Besides the first summoned individual, A, former Yongsan Police Station Chief (Senior Superintendent) Im Jae, and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Personnel and Education Division Chief (Senior Superintendent) Ryu Mijin are also expected to be summoned soon as suspects related to this disaster. A Special Investigation HQ official said, "We are trying to summon all police-related suspects within two weeks."

The Special Investigation HQ is also conducting witness investigations targeting employees of various institutions in parallel. The previous day, employees from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Yongsan District Office, and Yongsan Fire Station were summoned for questioning. It is reported that Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency employees were questioned about the establishment and reporting of the Itaewon Halloween traffic management plan. Yongsan District Office duty staff on the day of the disaster were questioned about how the accident was recognized and whether it was reported to superiors. Yongsan Fire Station field response personnel were asked about the actions taken at the scene before and after the accident and the process of preparing the preliminary plan.

The Special Investigation HQ plans to continue witness investigations on the same day with staff from the Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division, the 112 Situation Room, Yongsan District Office, Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center, and Yongsan Fire Station. Additionally, they will confirm the on-site situation and the response measures taken by each institution with victims who have recovered from their injuries.

The Special Investigation HQ also announced the previous day that it will notify the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) regarding the case in which the Firefighters’ Union filed a complaint against Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee for dereliction of duty and professional negligence resulting in death or injury, in accordance with the Corruption Investigation Office Act. According to the Act, investigative agencies such as the police must immediately notify the CIO upon recognizing crimes committed by high-ranking officials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.